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Business News/ Opinion / Drawing the line with China
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Drawing the line with China

For its Act East policy to succeed, India needs a coherent maritime strategy

Illustration: Jayachandran/Mint Premium
Illustration: Jayachandran/Mint

The script is familiar enough. Any time India makes a statement regarding the absurdity of the Chinese claims on Arunachal Pradesh, China is quick to respond in kind saying it doesn’t recognize the existing boundary between the two countries known as the McMahon Line.

This war of words and maps is well-known and is now a century old (The McMahon Line was first unveiled in 1914 at a diplomatic conference in Simla). The context remains fresh: China’s continuing disregard for frontiers in Asia both at sea and on land.

The most recent instance of this loop playing out was when national security adviser Ajit Doval pointed out China’s hypocrisy with respect to the boundary saying, “They (China) have accepted the McMahon Line while settling the border with Myanmar and then they say that the same line is not acceptable in case of India, particularly in Tawang." Soon, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson responded saying, “The Chinese side holds a consistent and clear position on the eastern section of the China-India boundary...the Chinese government does not recognize the McMahon Line, which is illegal."

By that yardstick, a vast swathe of territory that China holds can be dubbed illegal. The history of the dispute need not detain us here—nor should any justifications put forth by China and its friends. What matters is the present climate of aggressive claims launched by China. On Tuesday, China unveiled a white paper on China’s military strategy claiming, “some of its offshore neighbours take provocative actions and reinforce their military presence on China’s reefs and islands that they have illegally occupied. Some external countries are also busy meddling in South China Sea affairs...It is thus a long-standing task for China to safeguard its maritime rights and interests."

This is a remarkable reading of the situation as it is China that has been consistently increasing its presence in disputed islands in the South China Sea. Last year, IHS Jane, a military and defence publication, reported that China is building an island on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands large enough to accommodate what could be its first offshore airstrip in the region. The report also claimed that a harbour was being created to the east of the reef “that would appear to be large enough to receive tankers and major surface combatants". More recently, China has accelerated plans to build two multi-functional lighthouses in the region.

It is, therefore, disingenuous when China professes commitment to pursuing bilateral diplomatic solutions to all territorial disputes but cries provocation at actions and statements of other countries.

Against this background, India’s decision to sign a five-year joint vision statement on defence cooperation with Vietnam, another country that has a territorial dispute with China, is a welcome step. This follows the signing of an energy agreement between the two countries last year to prospect for oil and gas in two blocks off the Vietnamese coast. These moves too have been met with much Chinese criticism.

So far, Indian responses have been marred by a business-as-usual attitude. Its flip-flops on raising a new army division in the northeast region is an example. But in this random walk, some positive steps, too, are being taken. The decision to build a 65,000 tonne displacement aircraft carrier and a renewed emphasis on maritime strategy is welcome. The agreements with Vietnam should be seen as a part of this process, however fumbling it may be.

India, along with Japan, should actively consider partnering and building strong relationships with countries that have territorial disputes with China if it is to have any hope of checking the country. One reason why China has been making wanton transgressions in the East and South China Sea is that all the countries it is in dispute with are individually too weak to mount any defence against it.

For India, the time to Act East is now, before incursions along the border escalate. It is important to remember that if China doesn’t accept or acknowledge any boundaries, it is incumbent on India to demarcate them and hold its ground.

How should India deal with China? Tell us at views@livemint.com

Follow Mint Opinion on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mint_Opinion-

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Published: 27 May 2015, 04:37 PM IST
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